Where do these ultra-realistic images of Emmanuel Macron as a garbage collector on the streets of Paris come from, or a fake arrest of Donald Trump? No need to spend hours on paid software like Photoshop. They were generated in a few seconds thanks to a free artificial intelligence accessible to all: Midjourney.
Starting from a simple description in a few words, this “Image ChatGPT” is capable of generating all kinds of images almost instantly. Impressive works of art, but also photorealistic images that are already beginning to invade social networks.
And to take advantage of this tool, you don’t need to know how to code, or even hold a pencil. The Tech&Co editorial team gives you all the tips to discover and master the basics of Midjourney.
some preparations
Midjourney can only be accessed through the Discord platform. So, you need to create an account there, then go to the company’s website and click on this invite link to join the dedicated server.
be inspired by others
Once connected to the Midjourney Discord server, it’s hard to know where to start, especially since most of these AIs primarily understand English, which doesn’t help make them approachable. Luckily, there’s a very simple way to improve: view other people’s creations.
In Midjourney, you can admire the creations of other users, but also the queries that were used to generate them, called “prompt”. Enough to give you ideas for compositions and discover a mountain of vocabulary and techniques that you may never have thought of.
Make specific requests
Precisely what kind of words should be used? Even a very basic query can return a very decent result the first time.
How to go further? For example, you can ask them to use a certain art style or create an image inspired by a famous artist.
But you can go further and play with many details. For example, asking for a particular lighting effect, with words like “cinematic lighting”…
…a very high level of detail to be as realistic as possible, with expressions like “hyper-realistic” or “4k”…
…or even replicate the style of a very specific focal length (35mm, for example) or type of camera lens.
You can play in an infinite number of parameters, and for each one in a thousand different ways. The only way to discover them: experiment and be inspired by others.
Is the best the enemy of the good?
Your “prompts” can be as long as you like, but multiplying the words does not guarantee convincing results. Brief but precise prompts can be more helpful in exploiting the full potential of the software.
Don’t hesitate to try again
Programs like Midjourney rely on randomness to generate their images. Therefore, the same “prompt” can give very different results. If you’re not satisfied with the first render, don’t give up hope: you may have been unlucky.
Another recurring case: you come across an image that you like, but with small details that annoy you (a six-fingered hand, a distorted face, etc.). How to correct them without starting from scratch? Simply ask the AI to create variations of the desired image (by clicking on V1, V2, V3, or V4, depending on the desired image). Thus, you can keep the same base while modifying it in the margin.
Guide AI with reference images
It is also possible to guide Midjourney by giving it a reference image as well. The AI will then try to stay true to the style and composition of your source image by honoring your request. To do this, simply add the URL of the reference image to the beginning of your “post”. It can also be a photo of a person that you want to “reproduce” digitally.
always more realistic
Most of the photorealistic images shared in the last few days on social networks were created thanks to the latest version of Midjourney: V5. To use it, add “– v5” to your request. However, it is currently only available to paid users.
Despite its impressive capabilities, it is not possible to do everything with Midjourney. The platform strongly limits the creation of violent or pornographic images. These AIs also raise many copyright issues and many artists worry about the future of their professions.
Source: BFM TV
